A great family holiday is not luck, it is planning. This guide walks you through choosing the right destination for your children's ages, timing it around school and weather, and the details that make or break a trip with little ones.
What's inside
- Choosing a destination by your children's ages
- The best months to travel (and when to book)
- A complete family packing checklist
- How to fly with children without the stress
- Ten resorts our families come back to
Start with your children, not the destination
The single biggest mistake is picking a place first. Start with the ages and needs of your children, and the right destinations reveal themselves.
Under 5s do best with short flights, familiar food and a good pool. Older children want things to do; teens want a bit of freedom and good wifi. A resort that suits a toddler rarely thrills a fifteen-year-old, and that is fine, you just plan for who is actually coming.
- · Under 5s: short-haul beach resorts with kids' clubs
- · 6 to 11: adventure, water parks, gentle activity
- · Teens: cities, watersports, a little independence
Time it right
School holidays are expensive and busy, but you can still travel well. Book early (six to nine months ahead for peak dates), and consider the shoulder of the holidays, the first or last few days, when prices dip.
Match the destination to the month. Half-term in October is glorious in the Canaries or Egypt, difficult in the Med. We match your exact dates to the best weather and value.
The details that make the difference
Direct flights are worth paying for with young children. Interconnecting rooms or a family suite beat a cramped double. A resort with a genuine kids' club buys parents real rest.
Think about the journey, not just the destination: airport lounges, a buggy at the gate, a hotel near the beach so nap-times work. These small things are the difference between a holiday and hard work.
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